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Jan 27, 2011 22:19:12 GMT
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Quick update on the frame number "saga". Took the number board off the bike tonight, and scraped the headstock paint off on all sides. No numbers, and no apparant signs of numbers being removed at any point. Any further suggestions, theories ? I wonder if it is not some kind of a "Bitsa" bike.
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I know/knew a few people that used to work at the BSA factory back in the day. They built up about 30+ bikes from bits that were 'borrowed'. They'd head out of one of the side doors with what ever was neede and throw the bits over the wall into the canal that ran along side where a mate was waiting to fish the bits out. Anything and everything went over the wall. They'd even get frames, tanks, etc. painted first. It may have some of the parts that were lifted before they were stamped. [edit] Also, someone earlier mentioned Keefys Bantam. It is a D14. It used to be mine Really want another!
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2011 0:54:03 GMT by MiniDan
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I know/knew a few people that used to work at the BSA factory back in the day. They built up about 30+ bikes from bits that were 'borrowed'. They'd head out of one of the side doors with what ever was neede and throw the bits over the wall into the canal that ran along side where a mate was waiting to fish the bits out. Anything and everything went over the wall. They'd even get frames, tanks, etc. painted first. It may have some of the parts that were lifted before they were stamped. [edit] Also, someone earlier mentioned Keefys Bantam. It is a D14. It used to be mine Really want another! Weird how addictive these small bikes can be. Keefy's bike is rather lovely too. Understandable you would want another.
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Jan 30, 2011 15:41:37 GMT
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Popcorn time for those of you following my fun and games with the "Bitsa Bantam" Spent a few hours in the garage today. The mystery of the frame number that is not there, continues. Checked lugs, under tank, and inderneatht the frame. At this point the ideal would probably be to have some very clever BSA specialist/anorak check over the frame, to see where the number that I cannot seem to find, is hiding. After another 24 hours with some diesel on the plug, it still would not budge, so "Plan B" was set in motion. Again, not all plain sailing, as one of the nuts would not release at the top, but was quite happy to come out the bottom end. Later after a few hours in diesel, and screwed into the vice, it continued to have a mind of its own, so now it is back in the diesel bath along with the head and chain. With the head pulled off, I was greeted by a load of crumbly dirt on top of the piston, and some rust on the bore. Plug seemed to be part of the whole thing from the inside as well, so is now sat in the diesel bath with diesel all over the inner surface. The rest does not look much better, and WD40 and Diesel , helped along with some force from a 5 pound hammer and a piece of wood on top of the piston , has seen no change in position of the piston. While I was at it, I also removed the carburetor to get some WD40 inside the head under the piston, in case it helps. Got the throttle and controls off, with some more wood and hammer action, throttle was really rusted to the handlebar, and the inside is badly pitted, with about 2/3 of it rusted. I would think that new handlebars may be in order if I can get the engine fired up, and if the gearbox plays along. Once the seat was off, the bend in the rear subframe became more visible, also showing a weld on the left side, to the right of the photo. Not sure why it had been welded, but seems a neat enough job. The parts removed today in neat order, as I need to work that way, so as to be able to reverse the process at some point when rebuilding it all. Note all the loose rust from the tank, seems there is a lot of corrosion pretty much everywhere on this bike. Parked up the bike at this point with the diesel topped up on the piston. Lets hope it goes somewhere in the next few days (I mean downward)
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Last Edit: Jan 30, 2011 15:59:34 GMT by grizz
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dungbug
Posted a lot
'Ooligan!
Posts: 2,852
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Jan 30, 2011 16:08:23 GMT
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Good progress Rian, that plug looks well and truely part of the head. Hopefully a good soak will free it up.
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Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA
Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)
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Today I went and spemt some money and got some ATF, and 2 x 50ml bottles of acetone. For some reason the pharmacist said it cannot be sold in decent quantities for some silly health and safety reason. 1l ATF - £4.99 2x50ml Acetone - £3.04 Will mix 100ml of each tomorrow some time and get that onto the barrel and one side of the head to see what it gets up to. The only heat I have at home is an electric heatgun for stripping paint etc, so that will be "Plan D" if the next mix fails to penetrate and release everything.
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craig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,029
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Have you tried making up a puller? Flat piece of bar with 2 holes to suit the cylinder head studs with a large threaded hole in the middle. You can put some pressure on the piston that way whilst it's soaking. You could put a hole in the piston too but it might be worth a try before heat?
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,389
Club RR Member Number: 84
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I admire your persistence with the free solutions to everything, I'd have taken a look at the head and thrown the lot of it!! Also pretty envious of the free bike situation!
Good luck with it all!
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Have you tried making up a puller? Flat piece of bar with 2 holes to suit the cylinder head studs with a large threaded hole in the middle. You can put some pressure on the piston that way whilst it's soaking. You could put a hole in the piston too but it might be worth a try before heat? Sure I will get to a puller once the piece of wood and hammer fails. In the mean time, I have promised myself I will try to be patient.
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I admire your persistence with the free solutions to everything, I'd have taken a look at the head and thrown the lot of it!! Also pretty envious of the free bike situation! Good luck with it all! LOL. Tony, trust me sometimes it is the best thing to do, my problem has always been that I do not know when I am beaten. If you look at the Teardrop trailer thread in this section, you will see there are few times I could have given up, but I did not, and ultimately ended up with a neat toy that my wife now loves (not that she always did, mind you ) I guess I just got lucky with the free bike. The same guy found this one this week. I guess it will take a bit more effort to get back on the road.
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Massive thanks to Timolgra for packing them and posting them off to help get this Bitsa Rust and Bitsa BSA back on the road. In other news, those with a keen eye will see that the stud that had the seized nut attached to it, is now back in place, with a shiny nut on it. I took a 5lb hammer and used the coaxing method of getting it unstuck. Part of the thread stayed behind, so I used the new nut to rerun the thread to a point where I can get it in as deep as it is now. I suspect these studs are threaded in BSW, BSF or BSC and who knows what else ?? Fingers crossed it all comes together in the end again.
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OK, so I have been slacking a bit. But then I did say I was going to try be patient. Yesterday was Nicola's bithday, so after a cuppa tea in bed, some prezzies and a nice new helmet, we went over to Royal Tunbridge Wells for the day, shopping and being tourists. Today I was going to paint the garage door frames that I did on Friday, their second coat, and also paint the outside of the garage, I am going from plain stark white to a softer Magnolia or cream colour, instead I ended up carting a load of wooden pallets and wood home fromt he neighbour 2 houses away, to chop up for the fire place, and also brought about 12 breeze blocks home for later use. The other thing I did, and got caught on camera by Nicola for, was to hammer away at the stuck piston..... Pics to follow. I also took the exhaust off, and got the bike on its side to remove the rear brake pedal, and just started on the footpegs which have been WELDED onto the frame, when the neighbour came to ask if i wanted all the wood and bricks, which again distracted me. Truely caught "Red Handed" by Nicola who heard the racket and came to inspect, camera at the ready. This is how far I got with the strip down. Piston down, and ports showing. The barrel does not want to move from where it is, I also tried gently to remove the studs, failing there. At this point I stopped with the bike and switched to "woodwork" Hopefully I can figure out tomorrow what to do with the welded on, home made footpegs. I suspect they will be staying there, as the damage may be irreversable.
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This was posted in the trial section of Advrider. Have to say, it is lovely, and pretty much the look I would love to get with this bike. Even if it is hardtailed, same basic looks.
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Mar 30, 2011 22:21:32 GMT
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Hi Grizz
Nice to see another Bantam on here and a D7 at that. The engine is a 1959 D7 so first year of the D7 and its a battery model. The number on the fram is a part number not frame number. I cant remember where my frame number is so if I get a chance ill nip to my storage place and see where it is. I may have some spares too so if youre short of anything let me know and ill see if I have it. I know ive got a set of foot pegs somewhere.
Ash
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
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alright rian- i never knew you had this, excellent project!! alas, I'm a bit of a bantam buff too. your bikes definately a proper bitsa beezer! if the wheels are 19", there D1 or D3. a D7 should have 18s. they will have been cheanged for two reasons- for increased ground clearance, and cs 19" off road tyres were laods cheaper and easier to get back in the day. the tank is definately D1. your frame number , if its not on the headstock, should be stamped onto the down tube next to the front engine mount, not actually on it. like this- they are quite faint though and easily corrode away. let alone people messing with them-seriously, sandpaper can be enough to remove them. be VERY careful with that barrel and head, the 'late' large fin large bore 3 speed ones are higher compression( domed piston), and worth good money. the carb should also be the larger more desirable 7/8" bore one, and the gearbox will have the desirable high ratio top gear too as its got the extra grunt to push it. and when its painted up all spangly, ile pop theres in the post-
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Hi Grizz Nice to see another Bantam on here and a D7 at that. The engine is a 1959 D7 so first year of the D7 and its a battery model. The number on the fram is a part number not frame number. I cant remember where my frame number is so if I get a chance ill nip to my storage place and see where it is. I may have some spares too so if youre short of anything let me know and ill see if I have it. I know ive got a set of foot pegs somewhere. Ash Hi Ash, Bike's taken a back seat and ground to a halt, but I do have a completed bathroom, repainted house on the inside, started outside this morning.... hated it.... pebble dash, what diabolical stuff. Garden got about 7 tons of soil etc plus about a ton of rocks wheelbarrowed into it from the front, as well as a neighbours garden where he is now downscaling and having paving laid. I have checked various places for the frame number, and had no success, not even signs of where they may have been removed. The engine and head looks pretty knackered to my untrained eye, and everything else is truely been bodged, the foortests are home made,and welded to the frame, which could probably be restored with a bit of patience. It would be nice to have propper pegs on it, with the right positioning and angles.
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alright rian- I never knew you had this, excellent project!! alas, I'm a bit of a bantam buff too. your bikes definately a proper bitsa beezer! if the wheels are 19", there D1 or D3. a D7 should have 18s. they will have been cheanged for two reasons- for increased ground clearance, and cs 19" off road tyres were laods cheaper and easier to get back in the day. the tank is definately D1. your frame number , if its not on the headstock, should be stamped onto the down tube next to the front engine mount, not actually on it. like this- they are quite faint though and easily corrode away. let alone people messing with them-seriously, sandpaper can be enough to remove them. be VERY careful with that barrel and head, the 'late' large fin large bore 3 speed ones are higher compression( domed piston), and worth good money. the carb should also be the larger more desirable 7/8" bore one, and the gearbox will have the desirable high ratio top gear too as its got the extra grunt to push it. and when its painted up all spangly, ile pop theres in the post- Hi Dez, thanks for the info. I do agree the bikes a bits for sure. I love the shape of the tank, but of course the strip down the middle is not its best feature. The wheels are 19" and tyres are Dunlop Sports 300 - 19's I am not sure how I will get the plug out the head with my limited ability, as I do not want to destroy it. As you can see, the bike is a big lump of rust and neglect, I would love to just get it to start, run and stop. Keeping it as a pure kickstart and run trials/field or greenlanes, however, I have no plan to get it back on the road etc..... I have to really keep an eye on the pennies..... so your stickers, lovely as they are, may be safe. But you never know, one day a flush of conscience may make me do a silly full resto and paint. In the mean time, I have a lot to keep me busy around the house..... I think I am kinda stumped with its breakdown and dismantling.
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